Israel, Bulgaria Looking to Retain Tourism Ties in Wake of Terror Attack

Israeli Tourism Minister Stas Misezhnikov is to visit Bulgaria on Monday in an effort to retain tourism ties in the aftermath of the deadly terror attack that killed five Israelis in the Black Sea city of Burgas on Wednesday.

Misezhnikov is scheduled to meet Bulgarian Prime Minister Boyko Borisov and President Rosen Plevneliev and to hold a memorial ceremony at the site of the attack.

The Israeli Tourist Minister will be accompanied by prominent members of the country's tourism sector during his visit to the Balkan country, The Times of Israel says, citing the Ministry's statement.

"Terrorism will not disrupt our lives and stop our aspirations," Misezhnikov said. He encouraged the public to keep traveling, as meeting people from other countries and visiting different cultures was important, and said that "tourism is a bridge to peace." He thanked the Bulgarian government for its cooperation and its "dedicated treatment following the tragic terror attack."

"When terrorism hit Israel in the past the world warned against traveling to Israel," Misezhnikov reminded.

"Our reaction was clear: murderous terrorism knows no boundaries and does not differentiate between the blood of man."

"Israelis must not be deterred and will not be broken," he declared.

Some 140 000 Israelis visited Bulgaria in 2011, while roughly 8,000 Bulgarians visited Israel last year. According to Ministry figures, during the first half of 2012, the number of Bulgarian tourists in Israel increased by 11 percent, The Times of Israel infroms.